Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia is a condition that affects males. While not life threatening or harming, it may cause harm to one’s self esteem if suffering from this condition. This article will shed some light on this condition and how to treat it.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is known as the benign enlargement of the male breast tissue. Over 50% of males have some breast development during puberty. This may also arise as an abnormal condition that is associated with another disease, such as metabolic disorders, side effects of medication, or Klinefelter syndrome. It may also be caused by a decrease of testosterone production in older males.
What are some common causes?
- Aging. Hormone changes always occur with normal aging. A common change is a decline in testosterone levels, which can cause gynecomastia. This is typically found in men aged 60 and older.
- Endocrine tumors. Testicular tumors such as leydig cell tumors or sertoli cell tumors may result in this condition. Other tumors can produce hormones that alter the male-female hormone balance and cause gynecomastia.
- Hyperthyroidism. When this condition is present, the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine and influences the levels of sex hormones. This can cause gynecomastia, but it may return to normal after the hormones are regulated.
- Kidney failure. Patients with this condition often experience a state of malnutrition, which may contribute to development of gynecomastia. There may also be a hormonal imbalance due to the suppression of testosterone production and damage to testicular areas.
- Liver failure. When this condition is present, the liver’s ability to metabolize hormones such as estrogen may be impaired. If alcoholic liver disease is present, there may be a further risk of developing gynecomastia.
Treatment of Gynecomastia
If this condition has been present for more than one year, then surgery is usually required in order to remove the glandular breast tissue. This is similar to a mastectomy procedure that is done in female breast-cancer patients. Some complications may include hematoma, surgical wound infection, breast asymmetry, changes in breast sensation, noticeable or painful scars, or contour deformities.
Many cases of this condition may resolve without a treatment, though medical treatment is effective in most cases. If there are severe cases in which the breast tissue has become scarred, surgery can help restore a normal-looking appearance. This condition is not typically associated with long-term problems.
Risks of this condition
Men with gynecomastia five times more likely to develop male breast cancer, in comparison to the rest of the population. Gynecomastia itself is not a precancerous condition, but the hormonal changes that are present in men when they develop this condition may also increase their risk of developing breast cancer.
Gynecomastia is an embarrassing condition for most men and it is understandable that they would want to correct it if at all possible. Surgery is a great option, but there may be other treatments that are less invasive that get the job done as well. It is important to consult your doctor before deciding surgery is the only option. While it may be a very effective option, you might be able to do something easier in order to solve this condition.
For more information about gynecomastia surgery, contact us today at 702.410.9800.